Sunday, December 4, 2011

Owls are a Real Hoot

Continuing on a relatively light-hearted theme, I wonder how many people have come across the following observation from Gilbert White's marvellous 1770 classic "A Natural History of Selborne"?

"Most owls seem to hoot exactly in B flat according to several pitch-pipes used in tuning of harpsichords, and as strictly in concert pitch."
White was a country parson with time on his hands, an acute sense of observation, and an interest in nature that bordered on the professional (he identified and named several new species, including the harvest mouse and the noctule bat). It would be interesting to know whether his observation also applies to owls in other countries, and also whether there is any relationship to the fact that many musical instruments, such as the trumpet, trombone and clarinet, are tuned to B flat. Maybe there is a research project here?

No comments:

Post a Comment